Bed with lumbar traction apparatus



Dec. 13, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 12, 1954 INVENTOR. BERNARD DAVIS JUDOVICH ATTORNEY Dec. 18, 1956 B. D. JUDOVICH 2,774,349

BED WITH LUMBAR TRACTION APPARATUS Filed Nov. 12, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3

INVENTOR. BERNARD DAVIS JUDOVICH ATTORNEY Dec. 18, 1956 B. D. JUDOVICH 2,774,349

BED WITH LUMBAR TRACTION APPARATUS v Filed Nov. 12, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR. BERNARD DAVIS JUDOVICH ATTORNEY United States Patent BED WITH LUMBAR TRACTION APPARATUS Bernard Davis Judovich, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application November 12, 1954, Serial No. 468,222

1 Claim. (Cl. 12871) My invention relates to a traction apparatus for applying eflicient traction and, more particularly, relates to a traction bed or table for treatment of the lumbar spine and painful conditions of mechanical disturbance such as a ruptured or herniated intervertebral lumbar disc.

Traction is a widely employed procedure in low back and/ or sciatic pain, especially in the treatment of ruptured or herniated lumbar intervertebral discs. As applied to the present time, patients lie in bed and weights named to apply pull either to the legs or to the pelvis by means of a pelvic belt, using approximately 10 or 15 pounds on each leg, 21 total pull of 30 pounds which hangs from pulleys attached to the foot of the bed.

This method, however, provides no stretch to the lumbar spine. The weight loses all of its effect because of the surface traction resistance or horizontal drag component of the lower segment of the body. This resistance causes the pull of the weights to become completely neutralized or dissipated before it can reach the lumbar spine. It is, therefore, useless as a stretch force in the lumbar spine. Patients cannot tolerate a constant pull of sufiicient force to both overcome this resistance and also to provide adequate stretch. In the instance of an average weight patient, 40 pounds of pull'are completely neutralized.

Important factors which create and modify surface traction resistance are the area of surface contact of the body or body segments; the weight of the body or body segments; andthe quality, contour and texture of the contacting surfaces. In lumbar traction, surface fraction resistance may be defined as the horizontal dragging force necessary to overcome these combined factors. All applied weight which does not exceed the surface traction resistance of the lower half of the body will fail to produce any stretch upon the tissues of the low back. After these resistance factors are overcome, only adequate additional weight will have a therapeutic stretch effect upon the lumbar spine. w

When traction is applied to the lower extremities, the weight required to apply stretch will vary according to the level at which stretch force" is desired. This is defined as ascending force dissipation. That is, the higher the segment in which stretchforce is desired, the more weight will be necessary, Traction loses its effect as upper levels of body segments are reached. For example, 5 pounds of pull on the footwill cause some stretch in the ankle, but none in the knee; pounds of traction on the foot would cause a mild stretch at the knee, but none at thehip; l5 pounds oftraction on the foot may provide a mild stretch at the hip, but none in the lumbar spine.

Thisprogressive requirement of increased traction force as upper segments are reached, is due to surface traction resistance of the combined lower body segments. Tone and elasticity of tissues appear to have no bearing upon the required force.

This was proven by the following simple experiment in physics. The surface traction resistance of bodies, live and cadaver, was measured. In both instances, results closely approximated 54% of the whole body weight. The cadaver was cut in half, transversely, at the level of the low back, and its surface resistance measured. It was again approximately 54% of the weight of the lower body. Since the lower half of the body weighs 48% of the total weight, the surface traction resistance of this lower body was 54% of 48% of the lower body weight, or 26% of the total body weight. This is completely lost or dissipated or neutralized when pull is applied to the lower half of the body. Thus, a weight of 44 pounds would be needed to overcome surface traction of the lower part of a pound man. Only weight which exceeds this dissipated force will have any effect on the lumbar spine, and it is doubtful whether even 44 pounds could be tolerated as a constant hanging weight. Experimental facts establish that it is physically impossible to obtain stretch in the tissues of the lumbar spine by hanging weights upon the lower half of the body as it is now practiced.

It is, therefore, an object of my invention to provide a hospital bed or table which eliminates the surface traction resistance of the lower half of the body so that adequate traction can be provided on the lumbar spine.

Another object of my invention is to provide a traction apparatus for treating persons afflicted with a ruptured or herniated lumbar disc so that surface traction resistance of the lower body segment will be eliminated and the exerted force will have immediate effect on the lesion of the lumbar spine.

Another object of my invention is to provide a traction apparatus for treating persons afilicted with a ruptured or herniated lumbar disc wherein traction is applied to the patient lying in a prone or supine position in a bed, whose mattress and spring are split so that the upper segment of his body is anchored on the stationary portion of the mattress and spring and his lower body segment rests on a lower longitudinally mobile portion of the mattress which is movable on a track with roller bearings while the stretching device is harnessed to his legs or pelvic region. 7

Another object of my invention is to provide an alternative means for anchoring the upper segment of the patients body to the upper fixed portion of the bed by the use of an electro-magnetic device in the upper mattress section and soft iron plates in the body jacket with provision for permitting the patient or operator to release the electromagnetic counter traction, reaction force.

Other objects of my invention are to provide an improved device of the character described, that is easily and economically produced, which is sturdy in construction, and which is-highly efiicient in operation.

a With the above and related objects in view, my inven tion consists in the details of construction and combination of parts, as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in whichi Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a bed embodying my invention, wherein a patient is lying in a supine position, with the upper body segment anchored by harnesses to the .bed frame and with the lower segment of the patient embraced with the pelvic harness, which is-attached to a traction unit, or hanging weights. Fig. 2 is a plan viewof the bed embodying my invention. a i

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line;33 I

of Fig. 2. t

Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken along the line 44 of Fig. 2. V

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 55 of Fig. 2 showing the separation between the fixed portion of the bed and the movable portion of the bed with a 3 patient lying'upon'the bed with the pelvic harness embracing the patient and with the patient being pulled to his utmost position. a 7 7 Referring now in greater detail to the drawings, whereinj similar reference characters refer to similar parts, I show a' bed, generally designated as A The bed has attached thereto, at its foot end, a traction unit, generally designated as B, an upper body harness, generally designated as C, and a pelvic harness,generally designated as D. The upper body harness C, and the pelvic harness ,1) are shown attached to a patient, generally designated as E. The bed A has a frame, generally designated A1, a headmattress and spring half-section, generally desi nated as A2, which are mounted in a stationary position V 1 V V I V a e a I In addition, I disclose an alternative system o'f counter? traction-wherein an electro-magnet is 'set in the upper mattress section A2 with a soft 'iron plate'constructed within theupper body harness (Z together with a switchand upon which the upperrs'egment'of the :body rests, and a foot'matt'ress and spring half-section, generally designated as A3, Which'is mobile, and-upon which the lower segment of thebody rests, The body harness 7C Q is anchored; to the chest of the patient 1% and straps 10.

are secured to the body harness C, and'also to, the head e'nd'of the bed A. The foot portion ofthe mattress and spring A3 is movable in arectilinear position with respect to the fixed-portion of the bed: The movable portion'A3 of1-the bed comprises a frame 12 mounted Q fupon rollers'14 which ride upon a track 16 and guide rollers 18 which ride against guide rails 20.

"frame 12 supports a mattress 22 and a spring (not shown) while a transverse bar 24 contains in position the leading'edge 25 of the foot mattress 22fso that when V pull is exerted, the mattress 22 will not slide.

' a 'The mobile section A3 is adapted to be-aligned with the head mattress 25 and upper fixed portion A2 of the bed. The spring is not shown, but thermattress is shown.

7 A transverse bar 28 contains the trailing edge 2? of'the fixed head mattress 26 so that when pull is exerted, the mattress 26 will not slide. a

V The traction unit B comprises a m otor'which drives" 7 an eccentric or cardinoid cam which is illustrated in the i patents to Louis Yellin, No. 2,633,124 and No. 2,633,125.

It is adjustably mounted'upon the rear frame of the bed Aby virtue of the rack 30' and pinion, which is not paratus on. or ofi at his desire.

The patient is placed so that the level ofthefinjuredspineliesin the split 49'between thetwo mattressesQZZ and 26, so that when pull is exerted 'upon the-lower segmentioftheabody by means of a pelvicharness D or other attachment, the surface traction resistance "of the lower body segment isalmost completely overcome except' for 3 to 5 pounds; Because of the,fact thatithe upper vsegment of theibodydoes not pr'ovider sufficient, countertractiontoiallowadequate pull xuponathe lumbar spine, thetpatientniust be. strappedto the upper half of theb'ed -A1to'provide a means of counter'traction 7 7 I r y In operation, the traction machine; Bgpulls' the harness 'D so that the l'ower segmeht of; the patie nts body,-which GSts o 'u'the mobilelower portion of the bed'A3, allowing =an ,almost'frictionless motion'of the -n ovable portion,

and enables theentir'e oscillatory load to be; applied at :t-he" portion er; lesion ot the-intervertebial{lumbar disc. r Placingthe body segment to'be pulled upon roller bear-t lings eliminates its surface traction resistance. 1 i Pull upon the legs oripelvis'may. be applied either by a motorized traction apparatus described, by hanging weights, or any other acceptable method. V

In addition, I disclose a bed in which the mattress compartments may be split at various levels, locking 5 together those which are not desired, and releasing the level at which traction is desired. For example, in a fractured femur, the lower" third of the bed may be split, allowing pull upon the femur'with the application of 8 or 10 pounds less than is usually employed because 10. of the release of surface traction resistance of the lower extremity, This system can be applied to any'level ,of V

the body;-including a split upper: section for the head and I V neck for the treatment o f ;cervicall spine conditioir by 1 v traction. I

- control; governed by the patient so; that the patient. may

2.0 apply or release the"electro magneticrforce, thereby allowing countertraction or release of c'ountertraction as the 7 patient desires, 7

7 Although my invention'lhas' been described in considerable detail, such description'i's intended as being 25 illustrative rather than limiting, since the invention, may

be variously embddied, and the'scope'of the invention is to be determined as claimed.

i I claim as mytinvention: t a

the head'end thereof and beingladapted to support the upper segment of apersons; body, and a mobile half section borne upon the upper surface of said frame adjacent the foot end thereof and being adapted to support a the lower segment, of a persons body, said mobile" halfsection having a plurality of rolle ifleach rotatably/supr.

40 ported about a horizontal axis, and riding'upon'atrack on the upper surface of said framej and a pluralityof 7 guide wheels each rotatably supported about a vertical" Y axis upon thelower portion ofrsaid mobile half-section,

said guidetwhe'els 'fbeing positioned against vertical guide 'i rails on said frame whereby said mobile half-section isv adapted to move rectilinearly between s'ai'drfix'ed half: f section andthe'foot'end of th'e'bed, meansfor applying 1 V acounter traetion force to theupper se meater aperson s a bodyfsaidfcounter, tractiolii fggrce meansjhayingastr'aps 5O aflixed to the head, end of ,the 'bed and I embracing" a persons" chest, 7 and means if -said last mentioned means "comprising a pelvicharness 1 foriembracingthelowentrunk-of a prsons body, said pelvic harness being secured to a longitudinallyoscillating t bracket1secui'edto the,footend 0f:thef,bedwhereby maxi- 1 1mun1 intermittent traction may he; directly applied to V the region of'the'persons. body overlying the area between ikeferences Cited iii thelej of this patent- UNITED s rArEsrAIEnrs 620,318 1" Havnar V g; "812,133 Jamesetalj "Eek-6,1906 .1,348,896 Riesland" 2,690,175" Daughtry u A bed, wherein, apatient istreated for-lesion of thej 30 Qspine comprising a frame sup'portedyby legs at the head i I and foot end, said frame havingmeans thereon for eleva-; tionof the head and foot portion, a fixed half-section secured upon theupper surface of said frame adjacent said fixied and mobile half-section s. 7 'i harness for, f, i K r epp ying a traction for e to the flower s g P b d 

